The Great Lakes Compact is about keeping an eye on the level of our drinking water, which fast growing, but dry parts of the world are thirsting for. The compact would protect against diverting water outside the Great Lakes basin—any water that comes out of the lakes, has to return to the lakes.

Backers of the compact are convinced it will protect the 18% of the fresh surface water on the planet from “hot” new development areas, but also raise awareness among the states that are fortunate enough to live connected to it to use water more conservatively.

“Lake Erie is a huge economic driver for the entire state of Ohio,” Marnie Urso, Great Lakes Restoration & Policy, Grassroots Coordinator, Audubon Ohio explained at last night’s Midtown Brews.

“It’s one of the largest freshwater fisheries in the world. If that part of our economy dries up...it's just crucial.”

Bill MacDermott, a participant in the roundtable conversation, added that if large companies like Coca Cola want Great Lakes water, “let’s have them bring the jobs here.”

Asked what type of grassroots support the Compact needs to be considered by the Ohio Senate, Urso replied that writing letters urging Senate President Bill Harris to at least hold a hearing to consider the Compact is most immediate. Audobon Ohio has drafted a form letter for those who want to write Harris and/or their state senators.

In 2005, eight Great Lakes governors agreed to the compact, which must also be approved by each state legislature and congress. It has already received the legislative go-ahead in Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Indiana. Wisconsin and Ohio have yet to pass the compact, despite bi-partisan support. A small group of senators oppose the compact, arguing that water would not be able to go to areas surrounding the basin in their states.

But, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, who chairs the Council of Great Lakes Governors, said last week that blocking passage of the compact is akin to blocking Great Lakes water from flowing into these areas, because under the current veto system the other governors can - and likely will - flat out say no. He said that would not be the case with the compact, which actually opens the door to areas just beyond the basin line, provided the treated wastewater is returned.

Several around the table mentioned the work of Peter Annin, author of an influential book on the politics of Great Lakes water. Annin, who will speak at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on April 11, states that climate change and more droughts in coming decades could add to pressure to ship Great Lakes water to thirsty regions, at the same time global warming could cause the lakes to shrink, creating a nightmare scenario.

Links

• Great Lakes Basin Compact
• Audubon Ohio page on Great Lakes Compact
• Climate change impacts: Predictions for Ohio and Lake Erie
• Great Lakes compact hits rough waters
• Lakes forecast: Tension high, and Michigan partly to blame